Result of Service

1. A regional strategy (including national strategies) to scale up up-front finance into the forestry sector is developed. 2. Public and private finance for the iLandscape project identified. 3. An exit strategy developed for the MSMEs/SFEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises/Social Forestry Enterprises) post incubation (through the Restoration Factory or other models implemented by UNEP), including a plan for the SMEs to scale up activities and/or attract investments going forward.

Work Location

Homebased

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UN-REDD Asia Pacific under the Climate Mitigation Unit (CMU) and Climate Finance Unit (CFU) are looking to engage the consultant to provide technical inputs on business market connections and private sector engagement related to forests and land use sector in Asia Pacific. Under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator for UN-REDD Asia Pacific and with additional guidance from the UN-REDD Global Specialist on Finance under the Climate Mitigation Unit (CMU), the consultant will: 1. Develop an exit strategy for the MSMEs/SFEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises/Social Forestry Enterprises) post incubation (through the Restoration Factory or other models implemented by UNEP), including a strategy for the SMEs to scale up activities and/or attract investments going forward, within UNEP-led Initiatives in Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and Indonesia. • Provide business analytics and private sector engagement advice related to business acceleration, engagement with investors/market access providers, implementation of a marketplace connecting MSMEs to investors/financiers and any other exit strategies post incubation to UNEP team and partners. • Lead the assessment of financial mechanisms available for MSMEs/SFEs including their challenges, opportunities, etc. and design tailored financial mechanisms (also considering practices in other countries, and/or under other UNEP projects). • Facilitate engagement between MSMEs/SFEs and market access provider/financiers and document the process. 2. Provide initial technical advice on identifying public and private finance for the iLandscape project • Prepare an analysis together with project team in Viet Nam. 3. Building on existing UN-REDD and CFU Initiatives, lead the development of a regional strategy to scale up the private sector engagement and investment in the forestry and land use economic sectors, with the aim to generate investment • Options/models to cover but are not limited to a) Bilateral upfront investments to field level activities linked to carbon markets, b) Multiple upfront investments from national or international sources into a fund linked to carbon markets (potentially expanding to other commodities), c) Bilateral engagement with companies with BVCM claims.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: • An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) degree in finance, economics, environmental science, development studies or related subjects is required. • A first-level university degree level in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: • A minimum of ten years in roles related to private sector engagement, sustainability consulting, financial and economic analysis with a focus on agriculture, forestry, and other land-based activities is required. • Experience working on the Paris Agreement article 6 is desirable. • Experience of working at country level in the Asia Pacific region is also required. Skills: • Ability to advise on business engagement and provide economic analysis of forestry and sustainable land use models is required. • Strong communication skills and ability to convey key messages is required. • Ability to identify priority activities is required. • A demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations, knowledge of the United Nations system and a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consulting position, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.